In checking through the DLT FAQ, I found the following passage:

  Compatibility with the DEC TK50 and TK70 cartridges (CompacTape and
  CompacTape II, typically in use before 1985) requires the DEC TZ87
  drive, which is specially certified by DEC.

The FAQ also mentions that the DEC TZ85 and TZ86 drives only accept
CompacTape-III media.  My question is "To what extent does the TZ87
support CompacTape and CompacTape-II media?"  Can it read and write
to those tape formats, or can it only read them?

-brian.